Uwajima Area

Includes Uwajima City, Mima, Yoshida, and Tsushima

Uwajima City [宇和島市]

Uwajima is one of the larger cities in southern Ehime with a population of about 86,000. It is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Uwakai sea and Onigajou mountain. Uwajima is famous for its fishing industry, pearls, mikans, bull-fighting, fertility shrine, and annual Gaiya Festival in July. Website: http://www.city.uwajima.ehime.jp/

Location/ Access/ Transport

Car: To/From Matsuyama - 2 hours on the expressway, but the tolls will add up.

Tourism/ Festivals/ Highlights

Taga Jinja – very famous (and phallic!) fertility shrine and sex museum – prepare to be shocked! In addition to the shrine with the huge penis, there is a sex museum. Museum material is primarily older-style, such as ukiyo-e prints and aboriginal art. The museum has been described by some as “a dirty old man’s porn collection.”

Warei Shrine – large, beautiful shrine with a remarkable stone Torii gate at the entrance. There is a nice park with gardens in front of the shrine.

Gaiya Festival - 22nd-24th July every year. Modern and traditional dancing, amazing fireworks and Ushioni (demon-cow) parades. This is the largest event in Uwajima, and many come to take part in the festivities.

Uwajima Castle – what it lacks for in size, it makes up for in authenticity, beauty, and great views of the city. The castle is one of 12 in Japan that has not been reconstructed since the Edo period. The park is a good hanami spot in spring.

Bull Fights - held several times a year. They differ from Spanish-style bull fighting because there is no matador in the ring. The two bulls fight until one flees, marking it the loser. It is a rare practice in Japan, and an exciting event to watch.

Nanrakuen – a beautiful park is located in Tsushima. Certain festivals are held to celebrate seasonal blooms.

Date Museum – features many historically important objects tied to the history of the region and the Daimyo family Date, which ruled the region.

Taisoubeya – gymnastics, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and weight training gym. There is a 3000 yen membership fee and monthly fee of 3500 yen per month. The gym has weight equipment, a trampoline, and a foam pit

Onsen – Yasuragi no Sato (access bu car) and Haraikawa Onsen

Cycling – there are some great cycling routes in Uwajima and the surrounding areas. Inugai Bike shop (located behind the train station) has lots of helpful information and friendly guys who will invite you to bike with them

Sun Plaza - a community center that has many options for getting involved: Japanese calligraphy, tea ceremony, hula, weight lifting, exercise classes, and Eikaiwa

Nightlife

Karaoke

Voice – in the shotengai

Jungle – near the station, good for large groups

Maneki Neko - quite cheap and you can bring in your own food and drinks

Bars

Red Boots - about a block from the top of the shopping arcade. It features U.S. memorabilia and offers some decent food

Bar Premier - located on the 2F of a building across from the fire station

Bar Reverse - located off the shotengai

Mima Town [三間町]

Mima-cho is a small community known for growing rice, nestled in between the slightly larger towns of Kihoku, Yoshida and Uwa, on the west side of Ehime. The town has a population of about 6,500.

Location / Access / Transport

Train: To/From Uwajima - 15 minutes by local JR. The main stations in Mima are Muden and Iyo-Miyanoshita.

Tourism / Festivals / Highlights

88 Temple Pilgrimage - two of the 88 temples are located in Mima: Ryukoji and Butsumokuji

Cosmos festival - takes place in November

Winter Illuminations - held at Nakayama Nature Park every year from the middle of December to the beginning of January. There are many different beautiful displays of lights. Access is by car only, 20 minutes from Uwajima (it`s worth the drive!)

You can rent bicycles at the Michi-no-Eki and ride around Mima

Dining Out

Several small coffee shops in the center of town

Michi-no-eki - the restaurant is open from 9:00-5:00 and serves a daily lunch buffet from 11:30-1:00 with lots of home-style dishes

Togyu - Korean BBQ (yakiniku) restaurant

Shopping

Mima keeps your basics covered with an A Co-op supermarket and two liquor shops.

Yoshida Town [吉田町]

Yoshida is home to about 12,000 people, and is surrounded by mountains on one side, and water on the other.

Tourism / Festivals / Highlights

Yoshida Park - a free animal park with rabbits, peacocks, and turtles and a long roller slide

Kuniyasu-no-Sato - a replica village from 200 years ago, encasing a selection of old tools, antique pottery and sea-faring artifacts

Hoketsutoge - looks out over the Yura peninsula, Hiburijima, Tojima and even Kyushu on a very clear day. The sunset over the Uwakai is famous

Annual combined elementary schools Halloween party!

Mikan Picking – Yoshida is known for mikan all over Japan. There are many different types of mikan and the best way to find out about them is to go picking for them yourself! Mikan is in season from about the middle of October to the middle of December

Dining Out

Kuniyasu - yakiniku restaurant near Tachima Station

Shopping

Fuji Vesta supermarket on Route 56

Leisure

Yoshida Fureai Koen - extensive offerings including indoor and outdoor pool with a waterslide! 150 yen per use, and requires indoor shoes. Gym can be rented to play volleyball, basketball, and badminton. Table tennis tables are also available to rent.

Tsushima Town [津島町]

Tsushima is a town with a population of about 13,000. It is famous for both pearl and fish farming.

Location / Access / Transport

Car:To/From Uwajima - 20 minutes

Bus: extensive bus service to/from Uwajima

Tourism / Festivals / Highlights

Ushioni Festival - demon cow festival held in November

Yasuragi-no-sato – an onsen as well as a michi-no-eki. The onsen is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. There is also a restaurant and farmer’s market

Nanrakuen Park - plum blossoms from mid to late February, and sakura from late March to mid-April. There are many different festivals such as mochi pounding in January, a furin (Japanese wind chime) festival in June, and imotaki (potato hot pot) in September

Tsushima Play Land - go-kart track, tennis court, bird watching area

Shirauo Matsuri - people gather to eat small fish alive! A definite culinary adventure! Held at the end of January along the Iwamatsu River

Tsushima Summer Matsuri - August 16th and 17th. There are many different food stands, dances, and vendors, and a fireworks show on the second night